John H. DeLong, age 92 of Madison, passed away on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland. Born June 23, 1923 in Warren, PA he was the son of Morrell and Bertha (VanDersluys) DeLong. He married Florence Ray Creighton on August 26, 1950 in Pittsburgh, PA.
John’s family moved to North East, PA in 1937 and he spent his childhood in McAllen and San Antonio, TX. He was a pilot in the Army Air Corp during WWII and after his discharge in 1945 he enrolled and graduated from Clarion State College. In 1951 he received his Master’s Degree from Penn State. John taught three years at North East High School and in 1953 moved to Madison, Ohio where he accepted a position at Riverside High School in Painesville. Mr. DeLong was employed by Painesville Township Schools for the next 32 years as a teacher, High School Principal and Assistant Superintendent. During the school year 1960 1961 he was awarded a John Hay Fellowship to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He also completed one year of graduate studies at Western Reserve University and in June 1997 he was inducted into the Riverside High School Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his daughter: Deborah (Stan) Cole; sons: David (Janine) DeLong and Douglas (Sally) DeLong; grandchildren Scott (Samantha), Martha, Chet (Fianc Renee Elicker), Audrey, and Kyle; and his caring companion Brenda Mordush-Waldbauer. Mr. DeLong was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years: Florence; sister: Anne and brother: Richard.
Friends and family will be received from 2 5pm on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the Behm Family Funeral Home, 26 River Street in Madison. A private graveside service will be observed.
In lieu of flowers the family would like contributions to be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44110 or the Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, OH 44094.
Online Obituary and guestbook at www.behmfuneral.com